Many are choosing to depart at an age which would have been very unusual in earlier times, and each gives Johnson a new chance to reshape the parliamentary party.
But will the selections for seats where MPs lost the Whip be under central control? Plus: Bosworth candidate selected.
The Prime Minister’s deputy baffled inquiry with consummate professionalism.
That said, there was more backing for her from her party than some of today’s headlines suggest.
By Matthew BarrettFollow Matthew on Twitter. The Daily Mail this morning reports on the 118 Conservative MPs who have written to constituents indicating their opposition to gay marriage proposals. The Mail says "Their opposition has been expressed in letters and emails sent to constituents who have contacted them with their own concerns", and points out that […]
by Paul Goodman I've glanced back at the Prime Minister's Commons statement on Monday about Libya, and found the following: Richard Ottoway asked whether defence co-operation with Gaddafi was misjudged. Edward Leigh demanded no further cuts in the Royal Navy. James Arbuthnot asked about Hamas's refusal to hold elections in Gaza. John Baron inquired what […]
By Jonathan Isaby Thursday lunchtime sees the weekly session of Business Questions and as ever, today saw Sir George Young being asked about a wide variety of topics. East Yorkshire MP and Procedure Committee chairman Greg Knight was keen to know what progress there was to report on the electronic petitioning of Parliament: "Is he […]
By Jonathan Isaby Back in July, most of Parliament Square was cleared of protesters who were effectively camping there permanently. However, as the picture above shows, there remain a few tents on the pavement around the (temporarily sealed off) square, facing the main vehicular entrance to the Houses of Parliament. At Business Questions yesterday, Conservative […]
It was time for questions to the Health Department yesterday. Perhaps the most noteworthy question came from Mike Penning (pictured right), who spoke in light of the revelation that in 2007-08 criminal sanctions following cases of assault in the acute sector rose by thirteen per cent. Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley asked about sport in […]